Thornton, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Thornton NSW is 10,690 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Thornton is $887 per week ($46,124 per year). Median rent in Thornton is $400 per week ($1,733 per month). Thornton has a median age of 32 years, younger than the national median of 38. Thornton has a population density of 644 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Thornton is England. The most common religion is No religion (40.0% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Punjabi. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Thornton is $1,800.

There were 200 recorded offences in Thornton in 2025-26, a rate of 19 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (40 offences).

Population
10,690
Census 2021
Median income
$887/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$400/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
32years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Thornton vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Thornton is $887 a week, 16% above the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 641st of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $400 a week, $15 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 19.5% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 32, 11 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureThorntonTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$887/wk$765/wk +16%$766/wk
Household income$2,051/wk$1,704/wk +20%$1,637/wk
Rent$400/wk$385/wk +4%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,800/mo$1,965/mo −8%$1,733/mo
Median age3243 −11 yrs42
Rent share of household income19.5%22.6% −3.1 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Thornton, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Thornton Population

10,690 residents at the 2021 Census.

Thornton Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$887/wk
$46,124 per year
Ranked 2,283 of 14,663
Median Rent
$400/wk
$1,733 per month
Ranked 1,854 of 14,663
Median Age
32years
6 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,800/mo
Avg household size: 2.8 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Thornton Rent Prices & Affordability

20% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $2,051/wk
Median rent $400/wk
Rent to income 19.5%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Thornton against your income

About $8,888 a month
Median rent $400/wk
Left after rent $1,651/wk
Rent share 19.5%

Thornton Schools

11
schools nearby
6
government
958
avg ICSEA score
3,723
total students
Maitland Christian School Independent
Combined · K-12 · 832 students
1047
ICSEA
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 260 students
1013
ICSEA
Aspect Hunter School Independent
Combined · U · 290 students
1008
ICSEA
Thornton Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 826 students
974
ICSEA
Arise Christian College Independent
Combined · U · 61 students
971
ICSEA
Hunter River Community School Government
Combined · U · 70 students
958
ICSEA
Beresfield Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 262 students
918
ICSEA
Francis Greenway High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 742 students
912
ICSEA
Tarro Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 115 students
892
ICSEA
Metford Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 265 students
887
ICSEA
Aspect Hunter School, Tarro Satellite Independent
Primary

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Thornton, with a map

Thornton Map

Thornton, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Thornton, New South Wales: 32.7855°S, 151.6381°E

Thornton Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (11)

People in Thornton

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.3% (5,268) Female 50.7% (5,422)

Population Density

644
people per km²
10,690 people · 16.6 km²

Households

2.8
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,223
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
1.8%
New Zealand
1.1%
India
0.8%
Philippines
0.6%
South Africa
0.6%
China
0.3%
Zimbabwe
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Punjabi
0.6%
Mandarin
0.5%
Afrikaans
0.5%
Urdu
0.3%
Tagalog
0.3%
Nepali
0.2%
Hindi
0.2%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
46.3%
English
42.5%
Scottish
10.1%
Irish
9.2%
Australian Aboriginal
6.8%
German
4.2%
Italian
1.9%
Dutch
1.3%
Chinese
1.2%
Filipino
1.1%
Indian
1.0%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
40.0%
Catholic
20.2%
Anglican
19.0%
Not stated
4.2%
Uniting Church
3.6%
Christian (other)
2.2%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.9%
Baptist
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

7.1%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
46.6% 3,911
Separated
3.7% 314
Divorced
8.0% 673
Widowed
2.8% 236
Never married
38.8% 3,253

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
43.8%
Couple: no children
24.3%
Couple: no children under 15
17.1%
One parent: children under 15
9.4%
One parent: no children under 15
5.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
15.1%
2 persons
34.7%
3 persons
19.4%
4 persons
20.4%
5 persons
6.9%
6+ persons
3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Thornton

Housing Tenure

Of the 3,699 occupied private dwellings in Thornton at the 2021 Census, 34.2% were rented, 23.6% owned outright and 40.7% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.8% 28 dwellings
Owned outright
23.6% 874 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
40.7% 1,504 dwellings
Rented
34.2% 1,264 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.8% 28 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
93.8%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
5.5%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.0%
2 bedrooms
7.3%
3 bedrooms
35.1%
4 bedrooms
48.8%
5 bedrooms
6.3%
6+ bedrooms
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.1%
$300-$449/mo
1.7%
$450-$599/mo
1.2%
$600-$799/mo
2.6%
$800-$999/mo
3.7%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
15.2%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
22.6%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
30.5%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
12.4%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
5.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
2.2%
1 vehicle
24.9%
2 vehicles
47.0%
3 vehicles
16.1%
4+ vehicles
9.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Thornton

Employment

Employed full-time
44.8% 3,486 people
Employed part-time
23.9% 1,861 people
Unemployed
3.1% 240 people
Not in labour force
28.2% 2,197 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
22.2%
Technicians & Trade Workers
19.8%
Community & Personal Service
17.1%
Clerical & Administrative
14.2%
Managers
10.3%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
6.2%
Labourers
5.2%
Sales Workers
5.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.2%
$1-$149/wk
0.4%
$150-$299/wk
0.8%
$300-$399/wk
1.0%
$400-$499/wk
4.0%
$500-$649/wk
2.8%
$650-$799/wk
5.2%
$800-$999/wk
4.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
6.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.8%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
15.6%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
12.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
8.7%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
5.5%
$4,000+/wk
9.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.4%
$1-$149/wk
4.4%
$150-$299/wk
5.2%
$300-$399/wk
3.1%
$400-$499/wk
3.0%
$500-$649/wk
3.3%
$650-$799/wk
9.0%
$800-$999/wk
11.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
13.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
10.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
9.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.9%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
8.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.2%
$3,500+/wk
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
72.8%
Did not go to work
18.8%
Car (passenger)
4.6%
Walked only
0.9%
Truck
0.9%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.6%
Other
0.5%
Train
0.5%
Bus
0.3%
Bicycle
0.1%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
50.5%
Year 10 or equivalent
34.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
8.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
7.0%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
51.5%
Bachelor Degree
20.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
17.5%
Postgraduate Degree
4.8%
Certificate I/II
3.0%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
23.6%
Management & Commerce
22.5%
Society & Culture
13.6%
Health
11.9%
Education
8.1%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.4%
Architecture & Building
5.5%
Creative Arts
2.8%
Information Technology
2.2%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.9%
Agriculture & Environment
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
29.4%
Secondary: Government
17.1%
Vocational Education
14.0%
Pre-school
13.1%
Secondary: Catholic
10.4%
Primary: Catholic
9.0%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
3.6%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
91.0%
Has need for assistance
6.2%
Need for assistance not stated
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
1,385
Asthma
525
Arthritis
369
Diabetes
276
Heart disease
230
Lung condition
162
Cancer
135
Stroke
87
Kidney disease
84
Dementia
22

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
13.5% 1,090
Did not provide
86.5% 7,005

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
10.2% 827
Not a volunteer
89.8% 7,297

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
3.6% 289
Current ADF: Reserves
0.2% 19
Previously served
3.2% 258
Never served
93.0% 7,569

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
32.9%
1 child
12.0%
2 children
32.5%
3 children
16.1%
4 children
5.1%
5+ children
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
22
1951: 1960
56
1961: 1970
91
1971: 1980
76
1981: 1990
106
1991: 2000
111
2001: 2010
237
2011: 2015
143
2016
39
2017
34
2018
40
2019
58
2020
16

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

18.4%
moved in the last year
48.8%
moved in the last 5 years
4.0%
unemployment rate (Census)
71.1%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
8,338
Moved from NSW
1,384
Moved: same area (SA2)
259
Moved from QLD
53
Moved from overseas
36
Moved from VIC
36
Moved from NT
29
Moved from SA
28
Moved from ACT
16
Moved from WA
10

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
21.3%
5: 14 hours
31.5%
15: 29 hours
13.1%
30+ hours
9.6%
Did not do domestic work
24.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
79.4%
Step family: no other children
13.4%
Blended family: no other children
5.8%
Intact family: other children present
0.8%
Other couple: children only
0.3%
Step family: other children present
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Thornton Crime Statistics

200 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
40
Traffic
36
Assault
35
Other Against Property
33
Property Damage
27
Other Against Person
19
Sexual Offences
7
Drug Offences
2
Domestic Violence
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Werrington
Income: $806/wk Rent: $360/wk $40/wk less rent
Rosehill (NSW)
Income: $899/wk Rent: $390/wk $10/wk less rent
Singleton Heights
Income: $796/wk Rent: $320/wk $80/wk less rent
Oxley Vale
Income: $731/wk Rent: $335/wk $65/wk less rent
Paxton
Income: $730/wk Rent: $345/wk $55/wk less rent
Calala
Income: $878/wk Rent: $350/wk $50/wk less rent
West Nowra
Income: $750/wk Rent: $350/wk $50/wk less rent
Greta (NSW)
Income: $803/wk Rent: $360/wk $40/wk less rent

Suburbs near Thornton

The closest suburb to Thornton is Beresfield, 2.0 km away.

Beresfield
2.0 km away · income $664/wk · rent $350/wk
Metford
3.4 km away · income $731/wk · rent $350/wk
Ashtonfield
3.5 km away · income $891/wk · rent $440/wk
Chisholm (NSW)
3.6 km away · income $1,164/wk · rent $550/wk
Woodberry
3.7 km away · income $579/wk · rent $320/wk
Tarro
4.8 km away · income $623/wk · rent $340/wk

Compare Thornton (NSW)

Frequently Asked Questions About Thornton

What is the population of Thornton NSW?

The population of Thornton NSW is 10,690 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 644 people per km². Thornton is ranked #567 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Thornton?

The median personal income in Thornton NSW is $887 per week, or $46,124 per year. The median household income is $2,051 per week. Family income is $2,223 per week. Thornton is ranked #2,283 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Thornton?

Median rent in Thornton NSW is $400 per week ($1,733 per month). Rent represents 19.5% of household income, which is considered affordable. Thornton ranks #1,854 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Thornton?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Thornton NSW is $1,800. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Thornton?

The median age in Thornton NSW is 32 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Thornton a good suburb to live in?

Thornton is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 10,690. The median income is $887/wk, which is above the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (19.5% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 13867. All dollar figures in AUD.